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15
TUBERCULOSIS.
Last year 147 "suspects" were reported as discharged, 12 on diagnosis of tuberculosis, 46 on
diagnosis of other diseases and 89 as showing no evidence of disease.
Among 162 individuals, referred to the Dispensaries for observation and diagnosis, there were
140 whose cases had not been diagnosed after over two month's supervision. St. Mary's Hospital
is affiliated to the Dispensaries for purposes of diagnosis of doubtful cases, etc., 144 patients being
referred to that Hospital during the year. Consultations between the Tuberculosis Officers and private
practitioners took place with reference to 33 patients, 23 being insured persons and 10 uninsured.
The Tuberculosis Officers paid 486 visits to the homes of patients under the Dispensaries, and the
Nurses attached to the Dispensaries 3,625. Of 299 specimens of sputum examined, 67 gave " positive"
results.
In September, 1920, a Dental Clinic was opened at the Dispensary in Talbot Road, sessions being
held each Tuesday afternoon. Last year there were 49 sessions, at which 382 attendances were made
by tuberculous patients. The work done included 53 teeth stopped, 12 scaled, and 247 extracted.
The dentures supplied were 14 for the upper jaw and 13 for the lower.
Residential.—"C" Forms, reporting the admission to residential institutions (of all
descriptions) of 335 patients—266 with pulmonary tuberculosis and 69 with other forms—were received
during the year. Of the cases of pulmonary tuberculosis 30 . were admitted to Poor
Law Institutions, 27 to Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board (under 1 . to Hospitals
not reserved for tuberculosis), 21 to Special Hospitals, 15 to Sanatoria and 7 to General Hospitals.
Of the non.pulmonary cases 43 . were admitted to Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board (including 17 . admitted to Hospitals not reserved for tuberculosis), 27 . to
General Hospitals, 26 to Poor Law Institutions and 3 to Sanatoria.
The records of admissions to institutions kept in the Department show that 258 patients were
admitted during the year, of whom 144 (55.8 per cent.) were patients whose cases were first notified
last year. The 144 patients formed 46.1 . of the 312 cases, and the remainder (114) 5.1 . of the estimated number of survivors as at the middle of the year.*
The 258 patients comprised 141 males and 117 females of all ages, the sex.distribution of the 144
new cases being 77 males and 67 females. No statement can be made as to the proportions of males
and females (per 100 cases) among the old cases admitted, but of the new cases 46.5 . of males
and 45.2 of females received institutional treatment during the first year after notification of their
cases.
Of the 258 patients 189 were admitted once during the year, 57 twice, 10 three times and 2 four
The frequency of admission of new cases was 1 admission 104, 2 admissions 33, 3, 5 and 4, 2. Considerations
of space prevent the inclusion of the tabulations showing the class of institution to which
the patients were admitted, but it may be stated that of the patients admitted once during the year,
25 (13.2 per cent.) were admitted to Sanatoria, 58 (30.6 per cent.) to Hospitals of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, 37 (19.5 per cent.) to other Hospitals, 2 (1 per cent.) to Tuberculosis Colonies, 66
(34 per cent.) to Poor Law Institutions and 1 to a Home for the Dying.
L.C.C. Scheme.—At the end of 1921, 57 patients were still under treatment, including 2 cases
belonging to the previous year. Last year 175 applications for treatment under the Scheme were
transmitted to the County Council, 89 being from adult males, 79 from adult females and 7 on behalf
of children. For various reasons 40 of those applications did not mature. Of the 131 applications
which were completed, 73 resulted in admission to hospital and 58 to sanatoria. Of the 73 patients
admitted to hospitals 30 were subsequently transferred to sanatoria, and of the 58 admitted to sanatoria
2 were later on transferred to hospitals, 2 to other sanatoria and 1 to a Home for the Dying.
Among the 188 patients treated under the Scheme during the year 17 deaths are known to have
occurred (a fatality of 9 per cent.), 124 patients were discharged during the year and 47 remained
under treatment at the close of the year.
Care Committee.—Within a few weeks of opening the Paddington Dispensary for Prevention
of Consumption in 1909, a "Case Committee" was appointed by the Executive Committee of the
Dispensary. That Committee was formed largely of voluntary visitors. It was in full work until
the autumn of 1914, when its members were required for other work.
In April, 1915, the Local Government Board issued a Circular Letter pointing out the need of
Care Committees to supplement and complement the scheme for the Treatment of Tuberculosis in
operation in the Borough. The letter went on to say that the functions of such Committee being
to a considerable extent "outside the powers of local authorities . . . the Committee will be
a voluntary Committee . . . will have to rely largely on voluntary contributions . .
The Council was asked to submit proposals in accordance with the Board's letter.
* The "survivors" on December 31st, 1921, numbered 2,273, among whom there were 82 deaths during
the twelve months. The estimate has been obtained by deducting half the number of deaths from
the number of survivors.